5 Yoga Breathing Exercises To Reduce Stress & Anxiety

 

Written by: Liz Brown - Apr. 5, 2021

yoga breathing  

Stress and anxiety affect nearly 40 million adults in the United States every year. [1] That’s roughly 18% of the population! Many people turn to Western medicine for remedies or relief but often fail to seek more alternative methods. If you’re looking to reduce stress and anxiety in a more natural way, these yoga breathing techniques and exercises can help. 

What Is Yoga Breathing?


Yoga breathing and regular breathing are two completely different things. Yoga is a mind and body practice that has been around for over 5,000 and combines physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation in a variety of yoga styles. Yoga breathing, also known as pranayama, is the foundation for any yoga practice. Yoga breathing is a type of controlled breathing that begins with deepening a 3-part breath, then moves into more advanced yoga breathing exercises, which we’ll cover in more detail. 

Benefits Of Yoga Breathing


Yoga breathing, or pranamaya, has been shown to improve physical, mental, and emotional health. The most common benefits associated with yoga breathing include: [2]

  • Reduced risk of hypertension
  • Improves attention and focus
  • Improves digestive system functions
  • Boosts immune system
  • Aids in healthy eating habits and weight loss
  • Strengthens respiratory system
  • Increases the GABA neurotransmitter (“nature’s chill pill”)
  • Can relieves symptoms of chronic stress and mood imbalances
  • Can help with PTSD symptoms
  • Improves parasympathetic nervous system function (calms the fight or flight response, & reduces stress hormones)

Types Of Yoga Breathing Exercises


While pranamaya is the all encompassing term for yoga breathing, there are actually several types of yoga breathing techniques that have various purposes and benefits. These are a few of the most common yoga breathing exercises that can help reduce stress, anxiety, and improve your mind-body connection. No matter what pranamaya style you choose to practice, remember to breathe deeply through your diaphragm. Shallow breathing through the chest can cause light headedness so be sure to take deep breaths and engage your core.

1. Bhramari

Yoga breathing

Does your mind run about a mile a minute or find yourself constantly thinking about what someone said to you? If you can’t seem to calm your mind or find that your stress or anxiety is brought on by a constant inner dialogue, then bhramari pranayama is for you. Bhramari is also known as “humming bee breath” and helps relax an overactive mind. This type of yoga breathing technique is great to add to your night time routine as it’s known to quiet the mind and promote better quality sleep. 

How To Do It:

Find a quiet place and get into a comfortable sitting position. Place your index fingers in each of your ears to block any sound in your surrounding area. With your eyes and mouth closed, start by taking a deep breath in through your nose, activating your diaphragm. (Your tummy should move outward). Exhale slowly. While you exhale, make a humming sound. Repeat for about 3-5 minutes. 

2. Kapalbhati

yoga breathing

Kapalbhati is an intermediate to advanced type of pranayama that consists of short, powerful exhales and passive inhales. This exercise is a traditional internal purification practice that tones and cleanses the respiratory system by encouraging the release of toxins and waste matter. It acts as a tonic for the system, refreshing and rejuvenating the body and mind. This type of yoga breathing exercise pairs perfectly with a relaxing London fog latte. It’s a combination of Earl gray tea, activated charcoal, and collagen peptides and can help release toxins from your body and even improves your digestion and gut health.

How To Do It:

Begin in a seated position with your palms facing up on your knees. Bring your awareness to your lower belly and inhale deeply through both nostrils. Contract your low belly or use your hands to gently press on this area, forcing out the breath in a short burst. Begin slowly, aiming for 65-70 contractions per minute. Gradually quicken the pace, aiming for 95-105 exhalation/inhalation cycles per minute. Always go at your own pace and stop if you feel faint or dizzy. After one minute of the exercise, inhale deeply through the nostrils, and then exhale slowly through your mouth. Depending on your experience level, you may repeat the exercise.

3. Bhastrika

yoga breathing

Bhastrika is known to increase your energy levels while calming the mind. With bhastrika, your body reacts in a way similar to how it responds to physical exercise—it demands more oxygen and increases the heart rate. The difference with this type of yoga breathing technique is that your body doesn’t have to experience physical exertion in order to do this. 

How To Do It:

Sit in a comfortable position. Make a fist with your hands and place them near your shoulders. Inhale deeply and raise your hands straight up over your head and open your fists. Exhale forcefully and bring your arms back down, next to your shoulders with your fists closed. Continue and repeat for 20 breaths.

4. Ujjayi

yoga breathing

If you’ve ever taken a yoga class before, you’ve likely heard the instructor refer to your ujjayi breath. This is a very common yoga breathing technique and perfect for beginners. Ujjayi is known to connect your body and your emotions, which is why it made our list of the best yoga breathing exercises for reducing stress and anxiety. 

How To Do It:

Start in a seated position with your hands resting gently on your knees. Take a deep breath in through your nose, making sure to activate your diaphragm. Exhale slowly through your nose and restrict the air with your throat, creating a sound that almost mimics snoring, or the sound of the ocean. Release the air completely and repeat. 

5. Nadi Shodhan

yoga breathing

If you can’t seem to concentrate, nadi shodhan is a good yoga breathing exercise to try. This technique calms and centers the mind by bringing into harmony the left and right hemispheres of the brain, which correlate to the logical and emotional sides of our personality. 

How To Do It:

Sit in a comfortable position with your hands resting gently on your knees. Bring your right hand up to your face and close your right nostril using your thumb. Take a deep breath using your diaphragm and exhale slowly through your left nostril. Repeat on the left side. 

 

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